~ Two ladies, wine, and some great books

Category Archives: Dystopia

Thanks to the greed of man, Earth is dying. Climate change and human greed has wrought mass destruction over the planet, and a fraction of the population remains.

The Company Store controls the last civilization, known as the Single Nation Circle. Those outside the Circle are Outliers, outcasts and gangsters who do whatever it takes to survive.

Samuel Poe is the 18-year-old leader of the Poe Boys, the Northern Outlier gang. With resources ever dwindling, Sam knows he must be the toughest of the dogs fighting over the scraps if he hopes to keep himself and his people alive.

When Sam meets Anna Rose, daughter of Mr. Company, the most powerful man in the dying world, he finds himself in a deadly race toward resources and a new life.

Much like those of their ancestors, the choices of the two star-crossed teenagers will echo through the ages, the fate of the human race resting on their shoulders.

My Review: (5 out of 5 stars)

Wow. Seriously

There are some things that are scarier than the mythical beast under the bed that will – and i truly mean this – take you into some parallel world if you leave your feet hanging off the bed – yeah good luck sleeping tonight 😉 kay sorry being serious. The real fear is what will happen in the generations to come with the world.
H. D. Gordon paints a pretty scary sight for us. But its also a warning. A beautifully woven warning within an fantastic book.

Alright so the book 😀

First thoughts: I had never been so scared to keep reading a book, a mixture of what will happen not only to the characters but the world too. I was entranced and in awe over Samuel Poe. What a wonderful character. And such an easily, flawed man to fall in love with *.* It is rare to see a book mostly written in the man’s pov, and ever rarer in my experience to find a YA that is. BUT THIS….this was freaking fantastic! Seriously holy crap…. kay sorry i will get over the gushing – haha no i wont

Plot: This was wonderfully unique in the world of dystopian novels. For once it felt separate from classic ideas that we usually see. It felt like unique book in general. The outside world from the “structured world” was dirty, nasty and really, really, real. All and all this book wasn’t quite what i was suspecting. I am not sure what i was suspecting really but this exceeded all expectations and then some. My heart was racing out of my chest, while I was sitting on the edge of my seat just waiting to see what would happen next. I think i might have potentially injured myself swooning as much as I did because – wow. I think half my e-book was just highlights. What beautiful writing, and wonderful sweet scenes between all the characters.

Speaking of Characters…

I think I have mentioned the star of this book – Samuel Poe – OMG im in love. if it wasn’t sort of creepy but im going to pretend he is my age and i can love him without it being super creepy 😉 okay, ill stop being weird for a moment. He truly had the soul of poet and I think that he was an astounding character. He had flaws and he was quite aware of the fact he was not the hero of the end of the story. But to me he was the greatest human being in this entire book besides perhaps, Liem and Anna Rose.

All these characters were quite amazing with their own ticks and traits that made them all come alive on the pages. I found that these characters worked well together and I loved all ranges of them. Anna Rose was quite a sweet, truly kind hearted person. She saw the beauty in saving the world, and knew the power that she could hold.

The ending:

This will keep you reading up until the very last word and scared of the outcome. Trust me keep with it! I understand the utter fear you will face but it will all good promise

or will it …..

In the end this was a masterpiece, and another winner by the very talented HD Gordon in my opinion.

She was just a promiscuous secretary at the county evidence
locker. But all that changed with the apocalypse.

She found herself alone and wandering the country in search of
something, she just wasn’t sure what. She came across many different types of people along
the way, some freaks and some who are just like her trying to survive. Her adventures forced
her to adapt in ways she never thought she could, made her feel in ways she never thought she
would.

I’m Laura Konrad and I’m a 22 year old writer from Canada. I love
science fiction and apocalyptic stories and my first book was published with The Dryden
Experiment, a set of stories that were illustrated by Danielle Evert. When I’m not writing, I’m
reading copious amounts of books in a search for inspirationhttp://www.amazon.com/Laura­Konrad/e/B00ZXX8DG2

Faced with the scariest decision of her life, Missy is going behind enemy lines to save the rebel that seems to haunt her every dream. Finding courage is one of the hardest things she’s ever done, especially when she comes face-to-face with a terrifying reality. The green eyes that have fascinated her, no longer gleam with recognition. Now Missy must find a way to not only get them out alive, but to save the mind of the man who is quickly capturing her heart. And she must do it all without getting caught. Put to the test, will Missy be able to rise above her fears and find love, or watch it all blow up in smoke?

*This book is for mature audiences due to sexual situations, violence and strong language.

Warning #1: This is the THIRD in a series, can they be read as standalones? No, not really. I wouldn’t recommend it. There will not be spoilers for this book, but there MAYBE spoilers from book one and most definitely two.

Warning #2: I was given this as an ARC in exchange for an honest review. And honesty is what I do.

First Thoughts: So let me just say, when I first read about Tyler I was infatuated, seriously I had the weirdest crush on this man and he barely talked. I was just in lust with him. Now I am fully and utterly in love, and ladies back off he is so and utterly mine. I have already talked to Janelle and told her this. Anyways 😉 besides a sexy ass leading man. I love this series because each book is so different from the previous but also ties so fluidly into the one before to make it a series, that its just always entertaining and always not quite what I was excepting. This book was no different. It was fabulous. I was expecting it to be one thing, but was so different. So yes, read this please!!!

Thoughts on Plot: Here is the thing, at end of book two (yup here is that spoiler I promised) Tyler was taken, and Missy was there, and saw it happen. I immediately thought: Ludwig! That crazy-ass bastard who I am also all sort of in love with… i mean…. *runs away* wait i can’t run away I need to finish this review *comes back* So was I right or was I wrong? *wiggly eyebrows* well read and find out 😉 so anyways, Tyler is going through some…stuff. ^.^ And since both Ludwig AND the General know most of everyone in the group, only one person can save him. Yup, yup, yup my favorite new lady who was introduced: Missy. Why is she my favorite? Idk i have a thing for the quiet, shy characters. I will get to that though. So we get to see their relationship in so many different stages and I love it. I love seeing them blossom together, and I loved seeing them blossom separately. I think that plot wise, as usually everything moved at a wonderful pace, I was never really bored with any parts of the book, I do think out of the three that are out, this was the least action packed one, but that doesn’t mean things don’t happen, because boy do they happen! So much happens! I am so curious on what will be happening next, and with the next two characters’ book. OHMIGOB. I neeeds its like yesterday. Anyways….Overall I loved the plot we were exposed to a few new developments!!! And we are also sitting on the edges of our seats never knowing what this character or that character is going to do! It’s AHHH amazing. I just love it!! Seriously I know you are thinking she is a horrible critic because she loves this series, but I honestly believe this is such a refreshing look at a dystopia, its right in the heart of the rebellions, its right in the gritty, nasty part, where the new government while is in place hasn’t been there for so long no one knows anything different. All the characters just make me want to cheer them on. I really, really do find this book beyond refreshing, and unique. And those steamy scenes. *grabs fan* well. there you go 😉

Characters:

Missy:

Tyler:

Now about them!!!

Missy: I LOVED HER. Seriously from the first moment we meet her, I might even told Janelle this: I was like I want her story. I want to see her have her own book. Why? Like I said i just have a thing about the more timid characters im drawn to them. It was pretty damn obvious i think we all knew that at some point Missy was abused sexually by a man. So of course she is timid and scared or i should say cautious when around them. And Tyler well he is all man. I think I really enjoyed seeing Missy in this book the most because we could really see her growing, becoming better. I think that when she left and she had to do this on her own she really shined, and became her own person. She really became stronger and just utterly kickass. I loved her seriously. I think she was a fantastic character, and just as Janelle does with all her characters, which they are all usually unique, have their own strong voice, she did here in this book as well. One of my favorite features in Janelle’s books (and yes i am a seasoned Stalder reader 😉 is her characters

Tyler: :O talk about sexy!!! Damn, I am not going to lie I like me a good beard, I think they can be really sexy. On him, yes! He was possessive, dangerous, and oh so sweet. There are two sides to this man, he can be thoughtful, calculating, and so utterly careful with Missy and I loved how thoughtful he was. He didn’t just jump right into this, he took time, he eased his way in. He was so dreamy. This man. Wow. Seriously. He knew what he wanted and he was willing to do just about anything to keep her safe. I love how protective he was of her, but he also saw that she needed some space to grow and I think he would be totally and utterly willing to give her that. Seriously mine. MINE. MINE!!!

Ludwig: Now if you are familiar with the series, you are going, what the hell Becca? Well yeah I actually i really like Ludwig, a lot. I want to read his story, I am so super intrigued by him, but he is losing his marbles and its scaring me!! MORE LUDWIG PLEASE!!!

Trent&Phoenix: I really liked them both and I cannot wait to read more about them (is that a spoiler?)

The ending: I can breath a little easier than I could after Masked – thank god, seriously. But I still want more because I am addicted to this series!!! and Janelle in general

Janelle Stalder was born and raised in Brampton, Ontario. At an early age she developed a love for literature. Her debut novel, Eden, was the first book in a series of four, released in September of 2011. Since then she has released an Adult Dystopian Romance series, the New World Series, hitting the best sellers list on Amazon. She has also released a Mature YA/NA novel, Brush Strokes, that stayed on the best sellers list for contemporary romance for sixteen straight weeks. She is a strong supporter of other independent authors, and loves to interact with her readers. When she’s not writing, Janelle is at home with her husband, two children, Aiden and Elora, her little bun in the oven that is on the way, and her two furry children, Alice and Lily. She now resides in a small town in Ontario in her old, possibly haunted, century home.

Publications:

THE EDEN SERIES

Trapped within the cruel world of hormones and bullies, fifteen-year-old Aiden is convinced life has more to offer him. His instincts are proven correct on the night he is awakened by a voice calling to him from outside his window. As he sleepily peers into his yard, his eyes slowly focus on a woman who says she is there to take him to Eden. Aiden is about to fulfill the life purpose he never knew he had.

It is in Eden, a land on the brink of war, where Aiden will finally learn to trust himself and those around him. Accompanied by Wolf, his sidekick Logan, and the beautiful archer, Elisa, Aiden is soon thrust into a battle to save Eden. Meanwhile Elisa, the only girl in the King’s Army, is in the midst of her own struggles. Betrothed to a man she has no intention of marrying, Elisa is caught between the need to prove herself and her desire for true happiness. And now that she has met Aiden, she is more confused than ever.

In this action-packed fantasy tale, romance, adventure, and intrigue surround Aiden as he learns just what he is capable of when he discovers confidence and courage.

New beginnings, new conflicts, and new adventures arise in the second installment of the Eden Series, Eden-West.

Months after his initial journey to Eden, Aiden is learning to cope with his own transformation. His social status has changed, his friendship with his best friend Ethan is in jeopardy because of it, and worst of all, he has heard absolutely nothing from his new friends in Eden. What has become of the world he fell in love with? Are his friends safe? Is the war over? With no answers, and no hope for contact, Aiden decides to focus on his life in his world. Just as he makes this decision, he encounters a familiar bright light and thinks he knows exactly what it means. Except the light isn’t at all what he expects and neither is the person behind it. When Aiden returns to Eden, it is to a whole new part of that special world, and a whole new set of adventures.

Weeks after Aiden was returned to his own world, Elisa is sent to Nysa, the revered Southern city, to retrieve the one thing she’d rather avoid – Wolf. Captain Turk instructed her to get in and get out – but that is easier said than done. When she finds her missing friend, she also stumbles upon a great deal of trouble. This trouble goes by one name – Markus, the leader of the Sun People.

Follow all your favourite characters as they ready themselves for battle and fight for a world threatened to be destroyed.

The betrayal that tore a family apart. Two brothers bent on destroying the other. A whole world on the brink of war.

Aiden has been through his second battle in the magical world of Eden. The victory is short lived and Aiden is sent racing toward his friends in the Capital. After being back in Eden with the Riders, he is eager to reunite with Wolf, Elisa and Logan, although he doesn’t realize just what he’s returning to. Surprises await him when he arrives in the Capital; his close-knit group of friends is slowly falling apart. On top of it all, another battle is just around the corner, one that will change everything.

Rain has made her choice, and now she is in some unknown fortress with the feared sorcerer, Aziz. She wants nothing more but to please him, but being his Queen isn’t as easy as she thought. While trying to learn sorcery, and dealing with Aziz’s advances, Rain is finding her new life a bit overwhelming. Just when she thought it couldn’t get worse, she discovers a secret of Aziz’s, and it is nothing she could have expected.

Rose has supported Callum throughout their journey, but now that the final battle is just around the corner she is faced with a hard reality. Everything she has gained with him could be taken away. Is she willing to live the rest of her life without him? Can she just stand by while he destroys everything, including himself? Will he ever be able to find peace? Will she?

In the third installment of the Eden Series fates will be decided, and the battle between brothers that has been a decade in the making will finally come to an end. Only one of them can be High King.

The battle starts now.

New life, new deaths, and truths revealed. Everything ends now.

In the final installment of the Eden series, the King’s army prepares for their biggest battle yet. Aiden and his friends set out to find Aziz in his hidden mountain fortress and bring the war in Eden to an end. But secrets are being discovered along the way, and the weight of them could ruin lives. Aiden is coping with loss and the need for vengeance, as well as changes in himself he doesn’t quite understand. Thousands of lives are depending on him to stop Aziz once and for all, and this time Aiden is more than ready and confident he’ll be the one to do it. The stakes are higher than he ever anticipated on his journey east.

Elisa is embarking on a new phase of her life. She has the man she loves beside her, their group of friends have become stronger, and the end of war is in sight. Now she just needs to see it through so she can finally have her happily ever after. But she knows the truth that the others don’t, and it will test her loyalty and friendship more than anything ever has.

With two brothers side by side, and an army ready for war, the only thing left to be seen is who will live and who will die.

Welcome to the thrilling conclusion of your journey into Eden.

THE NEW WORLD SERIES

All’s fair in love and war.

Two thirds of the world’s population has been wiped out, devastated by the worst war earth has ever seen. Still standing amongst the ruins is a mind reader who finds herself on the wrong side of the war. Everyone does what they must to survive. When the rebels bent on bringing down the New World leader start to rise up, it is her job to make sure they stay down where they belong. That is, until one rebel sneaks past her defences and into her heart. Love will blossom from the ashes, but will it be enough to save them, or will it mean the end of them both?

Hatred paralyzes life; love releases it.

New Berlin, 2040. Rebels prepare to fight against the New World Order, bent on bringing down the world’s greatest tyrant. One girl wanted nothing to do with it, content to keep her head down and make the best of this new world. That is, until she has no choice but to work with the rebels and infiltrate the NWO headquarters. Every moment she spends there puts her in danger, especially when one man, the second in command to the New World leader, continues to make his way into her every thought. She must stay focused and protect not just her mind and body, but also her heart. Will she be able to complete her task without being unmasked? Or will the one man standing in her way ruin it all?

STAND ALONES

Brush Strokes

Art student, Olivia Banks, was living her dream at an exclusive school when everything came crashing down around her. Now back in the small town she grew up in, she’s forced to spend her senior year at her old school where she’s known as the ‘freak’, all because she’d rather focus on her painting than the trivial drama of high school. But things aren’t the same as they were when she left. And the one thing that is turning her life upside down the most just happens to be the resident bad boy, Colt Morgan. Her senior year was supposed to fly by so she could pack up and leave again, but what happens when there’s suddenly a reason to want to stay?Upcoming Projects:

Faced with the scariest decision of her life, Missy is going behind enemy lines to save the rebel that seems to haunt her every dream. Finding courage is one of the hardest things she’s ever done, especially when she comes face-to-face with a terrifying reality. The green eyes that have fascinated her, no longer gleam with recognition. Now Missy must find a way to not only get them out alive, but to save the mind of the man who is quickly capturing her heart. And she must do it all without getting caught. Put to the test, will Missy be able to rise above her fears and find love, or watch it all blow up in smoke?

*This book is for mature audiences due to sexual situations, violence and strong language

My Review: 5 out of 5 stars

I love this series. I loved this book. I love this author.

Warnings:

Warning #1: This is the THIRD in a series, can they be read as standalones? No, not really. I wouldn’t recommend it. There will not be spoilers for this book, but there MAYBE spoilers from book one and most definitely two.

Warning #2: I was given this as an ARC in exchange for an honest review. And honesty is what I do.

First Thoughts: So let me just say, when I first read about Tyler I was infatuated, seriously I had the weirdest crush on this man and he barely talked. I was just in lust with him. Now I am fully and utterly in love, and ladies back off he is so and utterly mine. I have already talked to Janelle and told her this. Anyways 😉 besides a sexy ass leading man. I love this series because each book is so different from the previous but also ties so fluidly into the one before to make it a series, that its just always entertaining and always not quite what I was excepting. This book was no different. It was fabulous. I was expecting it to be one thing, but was so different. So yes, read this please!!!

Thoughts on Plot: Here is the thing, at end of book two (yup here is that spoiler I promised) Tyler was taken, and Missy was there, and saw it happen. I immediately thought: Ludwig! That crazy-ass bastard who I am also all sort of in love with… i mean…. *runs away* wait i can’t run away I need to finish this review *comes back* So was I right or was I wrong? *wiggly eyebrows* well read and find out 😉 so anyways, Tyler is going through some…stuff. ^.^ And since both Ludwig AND the General know most of everyone in the group, only one person can save him. Yup, yup, yup my favorite new lady who was introduced: Missy. Why is she my favorite? Idk i have a thing for the quiet, shy characters. I will get to that though. So we get to see their relationship in so many different stages and I love it. I love seeing them blossom together, and I loved seeing them blossom separately. I think that plot wise, as usually everything moved at a wonderful pace, I was never really bored with any parts of the book, I do think out of the three that are out, this was the least action packed one, but that doesn’t mean things don’t happen, because boy do they happen! So much happens! I am so curious on what will be happening next, and with the next two characters’ book. OHMIGOB. I neeeds its like yesterday. Anyways….Overall I loved the plot we were exposed to a few new developments!!! And we are also sitting on the edges of our seats never knowing what this character or that character is going to do! It’s AHHH amazing. I just love it!! Seriously I know you are thinking she is a horrible critic because she loves this series, but I honestly believe this is such a refreshing look at a dystopia, its right in the heart of the rebellions, its right in the gritty, nasty part, where the new government while is in place hasn’t been there for so long no one knows anything different. All the characters just make me want to cheer them on. I really, really do find this book beyond refreshing, and unique. And those steamy scenes. *grabs fan* well. there you go 😉

Characters:

Missy:

Tyler:

Now about them!!!

Missy: I LOVED HER. Seriously from the first moment we meet her, I might even told Janelle this: I was like I want her story. I want to see her have her own book. Why? Like I said i just have a thing about the more timid characters im drawn to them. It was pretty damn obvious i think we all knew that at some point Missy was abused sexually by a man. So of course she is timid and scared or i should say cautious when around them. And Tyler well he is all man. I think I really enjoyed seeing Missy in this book the most because we could really see her growing, becoming better. I think that when she left and she had to do this on her own she really shined, and became her own person. She really became stronger and just utterly kickass. I loved her seriously. I think she was a fantastic character, and just as Janelle does with all her characters, which they are all usually unique, have their own strong voice, she did here in this book as well. One of my favorite features in Janelle’s books (and yes i am a seasoned Stalder reader 😉 is her characters

Tyler: :O talk about sexy!!! Damn, I am not going to lie I like me a good beard, I think they can be really sexy. On him, yes! He was possessive, dangerous, and oh so sweet. There are two sides to this man, he can be thoughtful, calculating, and so utterly careful with Missy and I loved how thoughtful he was. He didn’t just jump right into this, he took time, he eased his way in. He was so dreamy. This man. Wow. Seriously. He knew what he wanted and he was willing to do just about anything to keep her safe. I love how protective he was of her, but he also saw that she needed some space to grow and I think he would be totally and utterly willing to give her that. Seriously mine. MINE. MINE!!!

Ludwig: Now if you are familiar with the series, you are going, what the hell Becca? Well yeah I actually i really like Ludwig, a lot. I want to read his story, I am so super intrigued by him, but he is losing his marbles and its scaring me!! MORE LUDWIG PLEASE!!!

Trent&Phoenix: I really liked them both and I cannot wait to read more about them (is that a spoiler?)

The ending: I can breath a little easier than I could after Masked – thank god, seriously. But I still want more because I am addicted to this series!!! and Janelle in general

Abby Kelley returns home from the Greater city of Olympus to find that things in Orchard Village are bad, very bad. The Olympian Guard has taken over village affairs. The Lessers are being worked to the bone in the coldest winter Orchard has seen. Villagers are being dragged away for the slightest indication of what they call “resistance.” She needs to keep her head down and her mouth shut. But, it’s so hard to do when everything within you screams rebellion.

Kyan is coming on strong, trying to convince her to take a chance on him. Shocking news of Crew’s activities in Olympus sweeps through the Villages. When Abby is taken away by the Olympian guard, Kyan sends word to Vesuvius for help. But, no one could have predicted their idea of help or what they might expect in return.

Who will be left to pick up the pieces of Abby’s heart?

My Review: (5 out of 5 stars)

I loved this.

So FIRST OFF WARNING: This is a SECOND in a saga please be aware of this information as there will not be spoilers for this book, BUT there are spoilers from the first!!! <– can’t be helped sorry

Casey Bond you kept me up for all hours of the night…again!

Song Choice: “All of Me” by Angus & Julia Stone, “The Girl” by City and Colour, “I would be Sad” by The Avett Brothers

First thoughts: If you liked the first one (even a little) you will love this, or maybe i am bias because I am in love with this series. I don’t know, but let me tell you this book – nay! this author – is like a potato chip, you can’t just have one! I dare you to try! I was amazed, and thrilled to see where this series took us. I was surprised, shocked, flabbergasted! It was truly amazing. I bow down to you Casey Bond for doing the unusual and the shocking! Absolutely amazing.

Thoughts on Plot: So wowizers! This moved fast, with a pace that could not be stopped. This book was I suppose in page wise was a little “short” of course again i might be bias because I was not pleased with that ending, but the story was HUGE. I forgo-ed eating for this book. Seriously. I was filled up on this amazing read I didn’t even care. So we left Abby in Orchard once again with Gray (swoon) <– uncontrollable reaction to mentioning him unfortunately, things have changed in Orchard. The work is harder, the guards are more prominent, and dangerous. But one this is very clear, the Lessers are no longer willing to accept them status, and why should they? They are Greater than the Greaters we all know it. I loved the rebellion in this book. I love the stand that Abby decides to take. I was shocked by the new twist and HUGE HUGE HUGE developments in this book. If you think oh its the second in a saga not much will happen, you are so wrong. There was so much in this book and trust me you will never guess what is going to happen. I honestly didn’t!!
The romance: Okay I am not big on love-triangles, I am not. It always ends up with someone hurting and usually its the person i want the girl to end up with. This was dealt with very well in this book. Thank you Casey Bond!!! And that is all I am going to say on that ^_^

Characters:

I gave the casting in my last review 🙂

Abby: She has changed a little in this book (when i say a little I mean alot) while she is dealing with her heart breaking for so many reasons, she also is finding love in unusual places. She is dealt a very strange, and intense hand in this book. I think she handles it beautifully. She never pussy-foots around things, and she stands up for what she believes in. I loved her in the first book and I loved her even more in this book. Seriously

Crew: I was not happy. Not happy at all. I understand what was happening I do. But while he stole my heart in book one, but at the end of book one with all the shit he pulled he started to break my heart then and he just confirmed my heart break of him in this one.

Gray (swoons): hehehe well I had an odd obsession with him when he first arrived on the scene and thank god! I loved this man! He was funny, but it was also so very wise, and so loving, and so DAMN SEXY!!! seriously….*.* yum-mie!!!

Kyan: Good best friend. I truly hope that everything works out for him. And I don’t want to go into details about him in this book because…spoilers 😉

We meet new characters as well but I can’t talk about them because again spoilers, but I can say I don’t trust any of them. 😐 nope nope nope 😉

The ending:

That is I look like right now, and all day yesterday while I was out and about because of the ending of this book.
So Casey Bond, you better be handing over the next book ASAPIE!!!

Earth as we know it no longer exists. Humanity has destroyed itself and with it any chance we may have had of returning.

What had started as a six month voyage through the stars becomes a nightmare when the passengers are stranded in space without hope. With Earth gone, the crew and passengers of The Dawn Light are left wandering the galaxy in search of a new planet. After years of searching, one is found, but no one is prepared for the terror that takes claim of the Galaxy Cruiser when one by one the people begin to turn, mutating into flesh eating monsters.

For Scarlett, Hunter and Rolf, this means being trapped in a sardine can full of piranhas. Their only hope… to get the hell out before they’re next, but someone on the ship wants to be the only survivor to reach the new planet and will do anything to stop them. But just how far are they willing to go?

Death no longer has a limit.

AUTHOR BIO

International Best-Selling author Airicka Phoenix lives in a world where unicorns, fairies and mermaids run amok through her home on a daily basis. When she’s not chasing after pixies and rounding up imps, also known as her four children, she can be found conjuring up evil villains, bad-ass heroines and swoon-worthy heroes to play with.

Airicka is singlehandedly responsible for her greatly anticipated collections, the Touch Saga, The Lost Girl Duology, The Regeneration Series, Games of Fire, & Betraying Innocence.

She also writes adult paranormal & contemporary romance under the dark guise of Morgana Phoenix. Be sure to check out her Sons Of Judgment Saga & My Soul For You.

For more about Airicka and the realm she rules with an iron fist—and tons of chocolate—visit her at: www.AirickaPhoenix.com

My Review:

(i still love you Airicka, but seriously 😐 <= SERIOUSLY?!)

How can one person be so cruel? Why do you like to torture us Airicka? *grumbles…* fine lets get on with the review.

Song Choice: “Guilty Kisses” by Ilya – yeah only one sorry but its an eight minute song.

First thoughts: Holy fudgers, ugh THIS was…just THIS! Amazing doesn’t seem to cover it. I normally eat up Airicka’s books, I devoured this. Heart-racing, hands sweating, sitting on the edge of my seat, fighting sleep, that is what this book was. Prepare yourselves….I dare might even say…this might be my favorite Airicka book. Touching Eternity and When Night Falls are tied. And if you know me, I would have a baby with Touching Eternity I loved it so much. This was explosive. So amazing

Thoughts on Plot:

Now it was never confirmed that is what they were, but when something wants flesh for nom noms, I usually go with Zombies. IN SPACE! Sounds almost corny doesn’t it? It isn’t i promise! This was spectular. Though i was very curious about the world that was “left” behind originally, and they couldn’t return to for reasons… i am not trying to be purposefully vague but I don’t even think I read the blurb to this, I just dove in. I highly recommend that too. 😉 So back to the world that was left behind, I was curious about it, because we are obviously in the future, but idk I was a little I guess feeling left behind. Like i was missing a pieces of the puzzle for awhile, but they did start revealing more stuff as the plot went on. But this is what I can say, this was an adventure, terrifying, fun, and oh so sexy 😉 I mean, Airicka always has a man for us. I got that, I don’t feel right about this feeling a lot. Good thing too, trust your instincts my friends!!! So I didn’t know when starting this it was going to be a series (should I have been surprised? Nope. Not at all 😉 Airicka’s ideas a HUGE, and when I say huge, I mean massively huge, and can only be expressed in a series. I am not complaining AT ALL). Anyways moving on, so I guess this book could be broken up almost in three pieces. The beginning, all is good, we learn a little more about life before (not a whole lot) because we are learning about life for them now, then the middle-ish when things start getting WAY INTENSE, and problems are happening, then the end where we start to get some results…or do we? Idk you will have to find out 😉 Seriously though, God i can’t get over how much i loved this. i HIGHLY recommend it, even if you aren’t a huge sci-fi fan i think you will enjoy this.

^^ my face after finishing this.

This too:

XD

SO.DAMN.AMAZING.

Thoughts on Characters:

Scarlett: I really, really liked her. She was different from most of Airicka’s MC’s while I enjoy the other ladies and I do, she wasn’t as abrasive in my opinion, she felt softer, a bit quieter and there is nothing wrong with that. i think she is smarter than she thinks, and I think she is one of those quiet observers that things started to click for her without her even realizing it. I think she has the capacity to figure everything out in time. I really enjoyed though that while she was afraid, she was willing to fight and survive.

Rolf: *mmeeeoooow* I don’t know what it is, but maybe Canada is just full of these super smexy men that Airicka (and a few other Canadian authors I know) are hoardering all for themselves! Orrrr Airicka’s husbands like ridiculously swoon worthy……well this just got awkward….moving on! Rolf was in my opinion a character that needed some growing up to do, and he did, thank goodness. I mean he was silent and sexy but he had a few (a lot) of skeletons in the closet and he took forever to come clean and become his own man, but when he did, boy did he….kinda wish this was a Morgana book, I’d love to see what he was….okay i am getting awkward again im going to stop. 😉

Hunter: I think I got it now. I think i got it. I do. Anyways good best friend, good supporting-ness. 🙂

The remnants of the United States of America have been divided. From five enormous, technologically-advanced cities, the Greaters rule over the Lessers.

In the Lesser village of Orchard, things are not as perfect as Abby Kelley thinks they are. When the apple harvest draws near and the Greaters’ engineered fruits become too much for one village to handle alone, reinforcements from neighboring villages are called upon.

Having to choose between her best friend, whom she has no romantic feelings for, and mysterious newcomer Crew, Abby finds herself in the middle of a harvest that she had no intention of becoming a part of. She becomes involved in a situation that threatens the strict rule of the Greaters, and just might give the Lessers hope for a better tomorrow. But, can she help the Lessers without losing Crew?

My Review: 5 out of 5 stars (more even)

It’s been a long, long time, since I have read a book in one day, even probably longer still that I stayed fully awake until 2am reading said book. I can’t even began to tell you how much you NEED to read this book. Do yourself a favor, and do it. Seriously. Just DOOOO ITTTT

Song Choice: “We Might Be Dead by Tomorrow” Soko, “The Way That I Am” by Ingrid Michaelson

First thoughts: Holymygoodness, okay so honestly going into this, I knew a little bit about it, cough i knew it was a dystopia cough that was it. I was never expecting this. This was…fantastic. Not only was the story beyond engaging, fast-paced, never a dull moment here, but the writing, OMGOD THE WRITING, fabulous. Did you know that Casey Bond is a ridiculously amazing writer?! She is. This was my first from her, and definitely will NOT be my last. LOVE LOVE LOVE. Back to the book though, yeah I got hints of Hunger Games with the different cities, and the main city, sure but it was twisted and done in a Casey fashion that I didn’t care. I was so engrossed in the tale that she was spinning (which I might add, I did not see coming!!! <— seriously if you know me that is HUGE, a lot of times I call things miles before the book even gets there).

Thoughts on Plot: Alright so dystopia. The world is pretty much wiped out by a plague, there is the Lessers and there are the Greaters. And me being me, is disgusted by the system and I want to destroy it myself, the whole time I am thinking, why does it matter? You aren’t really living, living the way you are, but must separate myself, this is all they know. Alright moving on. I loved the world-building in this book, it was wonderful, it felt so right. Like okay how do I describe this without sounding insane. It was seamless, there was none that moment you are like wait what? Like you can’t quite get a grip on the world the people are living in. None of that, to me the WRITING, OMGOD THE WRITING WAS AMAZING, I am not getting over that, ever!! Anyways I enjoyed the *wiggles eyebrows* romance. I really bought that for Abby she didn’t love Ky like he did her. (whoops!) Though really you find that out on page on. Anyways I really loved the pace of this book, when I thought I had things figured out I was wrong. When I thought i finally had it, I was still surprised to find out how wrong I was!! Silly me!! I think this will keep you in suspense, and keep you gripping onto your kindle, e-reader, paperback, whatever format you have it in until the very end, then cursing Casey for not having the next one out NOW, BECAUSE I NEED IT NOW…. i mean… no seriously, Casey give it to me now. please and thank you. All in all, I can’t get over how much I loved this book. It was the perfect mixture of adventure, of kickass heroine, romance, dystopia, and just fantastic writing.

Characters:
(i don’t do this all the time)

Casting!! (these are my picks!!)

Abby:

Kyan:

Crew:

Gray:

About them!!

Abby: So wow, what an awesome female lead. She was amazing, really strong, really kickass. The best thing about her though that I really liked was that she at first was worried about her little world. Then it evolved, she was beyond mature, and I suppose in the world she lived in she would have to be. She was selfless, so very selfless how she was not a hero in her little village earlier was a surprise to me to be perfectly honest. In the end it was for the greater good, for even better for someone else. Her selfish desires came second. I really loved her spirit, and her just, her. I think you need to read the book too really experience Abby but she is totally, totally worth it!!

Kyan: See he was nice, sweet, and a fun character to banter with, but I feel like there is more for him that we still need to see. I think he will be an interesting person, but I feel like he has the heart of a rebel in him. A man who wants to do good because its what needs to be done.

Crew: What a little mystery. I can honestly say at first I was head over heels for this man, and damn if he doesn’t same some super swoony worthy things, but for reasons i cannot discuss in public he is on probation with me.

Gray: I can’t really go into depth about him unfortunately as he arrives at the end of the book, but he is very protective of Abby and that means to much to me. And I would be a liar if I didn’t say I was in love with him and totally on Team Gray. Seriously.

There were a lot of other characters, the villains (yes plural) were amazingly written, I couldn’t be more disgusted with them!! And ohh just amazing, amazing characters.

The ending: Cliffie? Maybe a tad. Does it leave you wanting more? HELL YES IT DOES. I highly recommend this book. HIGHLY recommend it. So sosososo amazing

When Trinity escaped a worldwide apocalyptic plague in the arms of Gerik, a Scandinavian Gypsy, she never imagined they would be soul mates . . . or what that even meant. Xan showed Trinity that love could save her from the seemingly unbreakable ties she had to Gerik . . . or so she thought.

After a brutal attack on camp and being abandoned outside of the wards, Trinity, now possessing her own – and very unstable – magical powers, is left to her own devices surrounded by Skin Eaters and all other dangers of the unknown.

Now, Trinity is alone. Having no idea where her husband, her soul mate, or the Popa Clan are, Trinity is forced to discover her powers on her own.

On a journey full of self-discovery, chance encounters, unwelcome news, and enlightenment, Trinity is fighting for survival in a world where the only thing certain is death.

My Review: 5 out of 5 stars

I’m not sure I want to continue. I am happy, and content.

but…..

Okay yeah i am just going to leave you hanging like that.

Warning: This is the second in a series, there will not be spoilers for this book but there may be spoilers from the first book that i will not be able to skip over. Cool? cool.

First thoughts: I wanted to say that I loved this as much as I loved the first book, which for the most part that is true but I had such a problem with the characters in this one that I couldn’t bring myself to honestly say that I was completely in love with them. I respect the hell out of the fact that they aren’t cookie-cutter, flawless characters, but at the same time there were many qualities that forced me to hate them as well. *shrugs* So with that said I will go into further depth about that later. This was fast pace read, and I started this morning and I didn’t want to put it down until I finished, so obviously it was addicting 😉

Thoughts on Plot: So this book answers my when did this world become apocalyptic, but it seemed like the world went to hell pretty damn fast, but alright i am still curious where the Skins (yes we have changed their nicknames) came from. And that prologue, and epilogue WTF?!?! ughhhh come on! i need more than that. *rolls eyes* Honestly the more i think about it the more it makes me want to go ahead and read book three. Here is where my biggest problems lie though, characters, not only that, but the situations everyone was in. I am all for novels that don’t make things easy for the characters, i get it, i love it, but this was hard for me. Last book I had fallen head over heels for Xan, you can check I was in love with him. He was hurting me in this book but i never stopped loving him, not once. But it was hard seeing how he had to live, and then how Trin was living. Honest to god, these books have becoming about Xan for me, but I don’t want to go in to depth about that yet since I will in characters. So this book was in both Xan and Trin’s pov, it had a bit of action in it, most of it to be honest i felt was like them coming to terms with the situations they were in. I am still left with a lot of the same questions I had in the first book, which doesn’t bother me because i was enjoying the rest of the story.

On to the characters!!!

Characters:

Trin: um…what? okay I get it she doesn’t know the whole story on what happened to Xan, this is communications at its worst because i mean they can’t really call each other up and ask what the hell is going on. I get that. I get that she was trying to move on with her life as she wasn’t sure she would ever see him again. I am not sure there were a lot of things in this book that really, really had me pissed off. A lot of it is stuff I can’t talk about because of spoilers. But here is the thing, she was separated on her own for awhile, and I get it I do. okay i can’t do this (view spoiler)

Xan: okay again I get it. He didn’t know, he doesn’t know the whole story and i totally understand, but damn man did you have to go and break my heart every possible way but I still loved him. I still love him. I can’t let him go. For some reason this book has formed its way around my heart, and its his story, its becoming all about Xan for me which is such a problem I know, but my poor beautiful Xan. And the way he grows from the beginning to the end of his book, I forgive him for what he had done because he didn’t know, but at the same time it hurts… (view spoiler) Xan was everything.

Gerik: You want me to be honest? I hated him in book one, I found that he was kind of like a child. He sure said some pretty things in this book but I can’t bring myself to care. I can’t find myself falling for him even thinking about to everything he had said. Actions for me speak louder than words, and his actions proved to me that he did care as much as he claimed to. In book one all we get is him trying to claim Trin but never tries to learn about her, never tries to make her more than she was, like Xan (*swoons*) In this book? Honestly I had to remind myself that he was 30.years.old. to me i kept thinking of his actions as more like a 17 year old. I just couldn’t wrap my head around his age and how he acted. I don’t know maybe its just me but I reallly, realllly don’t like Gerik. I don’t. I don’t think i ever will.

The ending: Well the epilogue was cruel. But I am also content and I don’t want anything to ruin the bubble I am living in so I just don’t know. And there are so many unanswered questions….

The year is 2042 and the world has been consumed by water.
Those who survived the great floods of 2012 clung to the debris of the Old World from which they rebuilt their lives.
Pym Maddox thought life was good living on the floating city called Aqua. Harboring secret feelings for her best friend, the smoldering Rush Rodgers, was the least of her problems. Rush is the son of her father’s second in command, a boy whom her father approved of – or so she thought. After her people are moved onto her father’s navy vessel, a motion which is only the start of the torrent of secrets that begin to unravel. Pym’s search for answers lead her and Rush to a secret underwater lab that just might hold the answers to everything.
Pym soon discovers that the world she grew up in is not what it seems, and her father may hold the key to unlocking the biggest secret of all – the reason Pym and Rush have a mysterious connection to the water.

Secrets and water have one thing in common: they get distorted on the surface.

My Review:

Damn one of these days I am going to pop my Mermaid cherry, but not today.

Okay first off: This was given to me in exchange for an honest review, and honesty is what I do. With that said I have to admit that this is a 4.5 stars for me. I can’t openly say way because SPOILERS, but i will put it at the end and hide it ^.^

Kay now onto this review

Song Choice: “Into the Ocean” by Blue Ocean because I like to do that every so often, “A Beautiful Lie” by 30 Seconds to Mars, “My Best Friend” by Weezer

First Thoughts: Well this was a quick read, not only because of its length, which I don’t mind the episodic sort of thing, but I will say this, it was just fast in general, the plot moved at a really fast pace which i really like. There were somethings i wish we could have slowed down on though only because this is a whole new type of dystopia, I guess i wanted to know more about the world before. Anyways moving on, it brought in a whole lot of new ideas that I thought were interesting and totally just like WHOA.

Thoughts on Plot: So I already covered that it moved fast, it was original…and oh god my first thoughts were mostly plot…whoops. Anyways Yeah there were a lot of new ideas presented in this book. It seems that most dystopias are like, welllll here is the world but its either dried up, or blah blah blah, but this was the first time i have seen a Waterworld sort of thing, which it was really awesome. There was a lot of mystery here and unexpected-ness that you will be going, Oh i think i know, but you don’t so HA. 😉

Characters:

Pym: She was stubborn and I think had a little too much faith in each other too much time. I think that she was looking for the best in people when she shouldn’t have been. I wish that she was a little more open with her BFF Rush, and main man. But otherwise than that she was a really good character. And I enjoyed her chapters.

Rush: For some reason I feel like this was more his book than it was Pyms for the most part. And personally I love that. I really do, its rare to find a book that is more for the guy than it is for the girl. I think that he was a pretty excellent character there were a few times i was hoping he was going to be a little more forceful, but omgosh thank god we found out his secret early otherwise i would have driving myself crazy with trying to figure it out. Anyways….yeah…

The ending: 😐 <= my are you for reals? Don’t leave me hanging face. Yup. Need more. NOW. NOW NOW NOW. SOOOOOO MUCH MORE can come from this and I wantz it now.

so HUGE SPOILER PLEASE DON’T READ UNLESS YOU WANT THE BOOK A BIT RUINED
(view spoiler)

Thirty years ago, civilization collapsed. Few survived.
Ten years ago, the aliens arrived…and stayed.
One year ago, I killed two men and went a little crazy.
Today, the aliens took my brother and I will do anything to get him back.

Until recently, the E’rikon have remained segregated in their city and ignored the few humans who have tried to engage them… but now they have taken Jax’s brother. To rescue him, she forms an uneasy alliance with a teenage E’rikon left stranded in the woods. She agrees to guide him to the city if he sneaks her past the human-proof barrier. Too bad it’s not that simple.

Jax, who cannot stand to be touched, finds that’s she’s drawn to the alien boy with bright green hair and jewel-like scales down his back. And he’s equally affected by her, the courageous redhead with haunted eyes. But she doesn’t know the alien’s true motives and he has no idea that she is much more than she seems.

In this world where alien and human are at odds, the connection forming between the two has consequences. What started off as a rescue mission sets a chain of events in motion which threatens not only the remaining humans and the growing alien society, but Earth itself.

My Review: (5 out of 5 stars)

The last page of this book says: Want more? Hahaha, no Theresa, the answer is: I NEED MORE. NOW. GIMMIE *grabbie hands*

First Warning: This was an ARC given to me in exchange for an honest review.

First thoughts: So take the idea of the dystopia books, and the craze of aliens, combined them, along with a complex, intriguing main character you get Broken Skies. Oh add a bit of mystery and a dash of romance ;). So this book was awesome to say the least, descriptive and not really afraid to go into some very *shudders* detailed moments (view spoiler)

Thoughts on Plot: So let’s dive a little deeper into the plot. I already mentioned dystopia and aliens, what more do you need? Well maybe some werewolves but that might just be me 😉 Alright so moving on…I jumped on this as soon as I read the synopsis I knew I was in for an adventure and I mean I LOVE LOVE LOVE adventures…. LOVE THEM. Anyways so this didn’t disappoint we start off running which – if you know anything about me you know I love that. So this is mostly a fast paced novel, there were a few times it was a bit “slower” but it was all in need of the novel you can be on the go go go go every two seconds if that was the case there would just be too much happening. Anyways we follow Jax (don’t call her Jasmine) and Lir (pronounced Leer) as they try to find their way back to Lir’s home and save Jax’s twin brother. They run into a ton of obstacles, both outside problems and inside ones as well. Lir is keeping a lot A LOT of secrets, and Jax is learning some of her own secrets. While this is happening they are also on the run from so many peoples. I thought the world building in this book was awesome, while it wasn’t explained right off the bat, like a, and 30 years ago this isn’t how the world was, but now its this way and here is my story. No we start with a bit of prose we live in the world a bit before we learned how it came to be which for me felt more organic and I really liked it, and while that part was slightly rushed it seemed, there really was no other way i could see it going down so I didn’t mind in the least.

Characters:
(hmm I seem to find myself doing this more often, but as normal, I don’t do these all the time, these are my picks, and you don’t have to agree 😉 )

Jax (Jasmine):

Jace: (a bit darker red hair 😉 )

Lir: but you know with green highlights – you know how hard that is to find on a guy? next to impossible

Kay about them:

Jax: She was a very complex character. Sometimes i will admit I found myself wondering if I should hate her? Not for the reasons that you are thinking, but there is a lot of hate between the aliens and the humans, but when really starts to act on those feelings are the times that I didn’t quite like her, she didn’t do it often, rarely even but there were a few moments. Anyways when I first started reading this all my thoughts were oh yeah Jax is going to be one of those fiercely kickass characters that nothing can touch this as the saying goes 😉 but well that isn’t quite true either, because we learn fairly quickly she does NOT like to be touched, by anyone, besides Jace. We learn shortly after why as well, and while there were times I wish it wasn’t so vague mostly because i wanted to know what happened in the aftermath but yeah okay that was my only thing about this book. It was also really well done because this is a “YA” I put this in air quotes because I saw it as more of a NA with some violent content but MOSTLY because the characters are mature, they aren’t teenagers even though technically in age they are. So anyways going back to Jax…got side-tracked. She isn’t this completely unbreakable girl that I thought she was, she wasn’t this ruthless killer, who knew what needed to be done and did it. No she was much more than that and I was very pleased with this. Lots of layers to be peeled.

Lir: He was…interesting. There were lots of sides to him, mostly I think that I liked him. But there is so much i cannot say about him and that makes this part really difficult for me. In the end I think there is a whole lot more we have yet to learn about Lir and we haven’t even scratched the surface of him. I think this book was more focused on Jax’s story which there is nothing wrong with that, at all, but I think there is a lot more to come. And. I. Can’t. Wait.

Jace: isn’t that much in the book but from what I know from him…well it will shock you…damn he was all sorts of awesome – now this is her twin…so she can’t be all lovey on him but I can, and I will. He was amazing.

There were a few other characters but I don’t want to get into them… spoilers 😉

So the ending: *shakes fist* give me more. now. It wasn’t necessarily a cliffie but there is a lot of unanswered questions, and a lot still to be done. And I want the next one, please and thank you 😛